Door closure and operating means



Jan. 1, 1963 E. H. PEEL 3,071,184

DOOR CLOSURE AND OPERATING MEANS Filed Dec. 23, 1959 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 48 421. H. PEEL. i 0 BY A TTOENEYS Jan. 1, 1963 E. H. PEEL DOOR CLOSURE AND OPERATING MEANS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Dec. 25, 1959 IN VEN TOR. A H. PEEL.

A 7702 NE )6 United Sitar-es Patent:

Ehd'ihldd Patented Jan. l, 1963 3,971,184 HUGE QLGSURE AND UPERA'IH -IG MEANS Earl H. Peel, Greenback, Cincinnati, Ohio, assignor, by mesne assignments, to McGraw-Edison Company, a corporation of Delaware Filed Dec. 23, 1959, Ser. No. 861,677

2 Claims. ill. I6tl4ll) This invention relates to door operating and door sealing mechanism for an elongated Washing machine of the type having a fixed outer shell or housing and a workcontaining cylinder rotatable therewithin. For the purpose of the present disclosure of the invention the door closing and sealing mechanism will be illustrated and described as applied to a laterally extending door of the two part jack-knife opening type, the two parts being hingedly connected along an intermediate hinge line extending the full lateral width of the door.

An object of the present invention is to provide novel and improved door operating means including two independently operating power units, one for opening the tion, and the other for forcibly urging the door to securely shut, tightly sealed condition.

A further object of the invention is to provide safety latch means for holding the door in safely poised, open position, and additional means for releasing the latch when the door-closing means is operated.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent from a study of the following description of one embodiment of the invention, in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which FIGURE 1 is a right end elevation of the front half of a washer, showing the double-hinged door closed and sealed by two power motors which in this embodiment are air cylinders. The open position of the parts is indicated in broken line.

FIGURE 2 is a partial end elevation showing the middle joint part of the door when in open position.

FIGURE 3 is a fragmentary front view of the same area, looking in the direction 3-3, FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 4 is a fragmentary transverse section through the bottom edge of the door and the seal when in sealing condition.

FIGURE 5 is a fragmentary transverse section through the top hinged edge of the door.

FIGURE 6 is a fragmentary section through a side edge seal, on line fi-fi, FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 7 is a fragmentary front elevation at a corner of the door opening (the door being raised and out of the way), showing the side and bottom seals or gaskets.

FIGURE 8 is a partial, broken, elevation along the area of the bottom seal, with door closed, showing construction detail at the pivot point, and also showing an optional holding member or bracket to support an intermediate portion of the door bottom.

FIGURE 9 gives a side view of this member as viewed in the fragmentary transverse section 9--9, FIGURE 8.

FIGURE 10 is a partial right end elevation of the washer with the door closed but not sealed.

FIGURE 11 is a section through the side edge of the door and seal before compression, line ill-11, FIG- URE l0.

FIGURE 12 is a side View of the hold-open latch, in the direction l2-I2, FIGURE 10.

The door It? comprises at upper and a lower part 10a, It'll), approximately of the same circumferential arcuate extent. The upper portion is connected to the circumferential tub wall 11 along a first axis of swing by a hinge 12 along the top edge of the door opening, and to lower section it?!) by a hinge 13 constituting a second axis of swing. A pivot pin 14 extends out from the end of a stiifening bar 15 on the bottom of the lower door portion, and connects to an operating arm in pivotally secured to the washer end wall 17 at 16a. This arm is so located as to guide and move the door up and down in jackknife fashion between its closed and open positions, FIGURE 1, by means of a double-acting air cylinder motor 18, as will appear.

For tightly sealing the door, a separately powered pin and hook arrangement is provided. Lever or bellcrank plate 19 is pivotally connected to the tub end wall at 19a, and connects by a link bar 24} to the piston rod of a short air cylinder motor 21'. A pin 1% on the lever is arranged to engage a hook member 22 depending from and secured to the door portion 1% at the center hinge zone by a suitably strong construction such as shown in FIGURES 2 and 3. A stiffener bar 23 is secured to door section 10b along the center hinge line, and extends out beyond the end wall to the hook plate 22. A bracing piece 22a is also secured between the hook plate, the stiffener bar 23 and side edge stiffener bar or batten 24, these various pieces being solidly joined, as by welding, to provide the required strength and rigidity. There are also side edge stiffener battens 25 (FIGS. 2 and 3) on the upper door half, a cross batten 26 (FIG. 5) at the top edge, a triangular brace 27 (FIG. 8) for the pivot extension of the bottom bar 15, as well as conventional reinforcing strips along the door opening, hinge points, etc. When the single-acting cylinder 21 is not energized, lever 19 is held up, i.e., swung counterclockwise, by a spring 28 (FIG. 10) and rests against a stop 29. In this position, pin 19b is clear of the hook 22 during the opening and closing movements of the door.

A rubber gasket sealing strip 30 extends along the side edges of the tub door opening, supported in a channel member 31. This is fastened by bolts 32 to the peripheral tub wall 11 and inner supporting flange 17a. Extending along outside of the bottom edge of the door opening is another rubber gasket or sealing strip member 33, carried in a channel 34 secured to the peripheral tub wall Ill. FIGURE 7 shows the junction of strips 3% and 33. At the top, side seal 39 extends to the hinge 12. There is no rubber seal along the top edge of the opening, but an angle strip 35 (FIG. 5) secured along the inner door edge acts as a baffle to divert any liquid that may splash around that area.

The sides and bottom are, of course, the edges most prone to leakage, this being particularly so in the so-called low door machine here shown, in which the bottom of the door opening is below the center line of the tub. The sealing at the bottom is accomplished by pressing the sheet edge of the lower door into the rubber 33. Referring to FIGURE 10, the door is in closed but unsealed position, and compressed air is entering the top connection of the cylinder from line 36 by way of an operator-com trolled valve 37, so as to cause motor 18 to pull downward on the arm 16. Air is vented from the bottom of the cylinder to line 38 and out through the other passage in valve 37. The sealing cylinder 21 is not yet energized. The downward closing force is sufiicient to bring the bottom edge of the door just into contact with the resilient sealing strip 33. As seen in this view, the relation of the parts is such that at this time the side edge sealing varies from light contact at the central joint (FIGURE 11) to a considerable compression near the top and the bottom. It will be understood that the variaions in dimensions, etc, in large machines of this type often requires or causes some deviation from the indicated degree of seal compression near the lower end of seal 30, but, in any case, the door would now be just closed at the bottom edge, the side seal lightly contacted at the central portion and compressed to some degree towards the top and the bottom.

When valve 39 is now moved to the position of FIG- UR'E 1, compressed air is admitted by line 40 to cylinder 21, swinging lever 19 clockwise to engage book 22 with pin 19b and pull the doors into full sealing engagement with the side seals 30 (FIG. 6). This also produces a downward movement of the bottom edge of the door. This is of limited extent, but considerable force is exerted due to the toggle action of the jointed door, so that the door edge digs into the rubber bar 33 (FIGS. 4 and 9). The toggle effect is occasioned by the fact that the center axis of swing along hinge 13 is outwardly offset from the plane of hinge 12 and sealing strip 33.

To open the tub door, the operator first moves valve 39 from the position of FIGURE 1 to that of FIGURE 10, releasing the sealing means. He then shifts valve 37 to admit air to the bottom of cylinder 18 and vent the top. This swings up the arm 16, which raises the door to the position indicated in broken lines, FIGURE 1, the arm contacting a stop screw 41. In arriving at this full open position, the arm 16 has engaged the inclined face of latch bar 42, depressing the bar, or lever, against spring 43 (FIG. 12), and the bar then snaps back up with its latch shoulder behind arm 16, as shown in broken lines. The latch bar is pivotally mounted in a bracket 44 on the washer end wall, and has a short end 42a engageable with the piston rod or plunger of a small air motor 45 mounted on a leg of the bracket. The cylinder 45 is used to release the latch, but at this time it is de-energized. Note that its line 46 connects to line 36, and that valve 37 will be in a position to vent these lines at the time when the door is raised and held raised by motor 18. The arm 16 thus is normally being held in raised position, with the door open, by upward force of the motor 18. In case the air supply should fail, the arm will be held by the latch. Depending upon the particular design and location of parts, there may or may not be a tendency for the door to fall closed, but the latch removes any possibility of such fall, and eliminates this operator hazard. When the valve 37 is shifted back to the closing position shown, air is admitted to release cylinder 45 and the top of cylinder 18, and the latch is released, as shown in full lines, FIGURE 12, release occurring just ahead of arm movement because of difference in inertia, etc.

While one such set of operating means is theoretically complete in itself, the washers employing a power-operated door are usually of substantial size, and a similar set of air cylinders with suitable linkages is used at both ends to avoid twisting of the door. Only one latch device 42 is needed, however, and, of course, just one set of valves is used. The air control here disclosed indicates branch air lines 361., 38L and 40L for connection to corresponding parts on the left end of the machine. A couple of background parts 30L, 31L, FIGURES and 9, are parts of the left end set.

Similarly, an extra strengthening means consisting of a door edge supporting bracket member 47, has been found a desirable addition, particularly helpful with long tubs. This is simply a bracket bolted to the front tub frame 17b to act as a support for the door edge to prevent bulging out due to the pounding of the water. The rounded top part of the contact face is not for the purpose of wedging the door inward, but is merely to avoid bumping and catching of bar as the door bottom moves in its opening and closing path. There may be a light contact but only to assure a firm seating of the bar and bracket.

This door closure is applicable to many kinds of worktreating or liquid-holding containers, but, as mentioned, it has particular usefulness with so-called low-door washers, having an inner cylinder 48 supported for rotation by shaft 49 and conventional driving means.

What is claimed is:

1. Door operating means for a cylindrical drum of the type having a door opening, said opening having top, bottom and side edges, and a door for said opening comprising an upper panel and a lower panel, the upper panel being hinged to the drum wall along the top edge of said opening to provide a first axis of swing, and the lower I panel being hinged to the upper panel along a second axis of swing, both said axes being parallel to each other whereby to permit said panels to be swung upwardly and inwardly on said first axis, and simultaneously to be jackknifed towards mutual overlap by movement of said lower panel around said second axis so as to clear said door opening for loading or unloading, a resilient sealing strip extending along the two side edges and the bottom edge of said opening and adapted to be contacted respectively by adjacent side edges of said door panels and by the bottom edge of said lower panel when said door approaches closed positions, said door in the latter position constituting a toggle system wherein said second axis is the center pivot, and is disposed radially outwardly of a plane common to said first axis and the sealing strip along the bottom of said opening, and operating means for said door comprising a first fluid power motor and a second fluid power motor, a piston in said first fluid motor, a first linkage means connecting said piston with said lower panel whereby when said first motor is energized said door moves between open and an initial closed position, in which position the side ed es and bottom edge of said door establish initial contact with the respective side sealing strips and the bottom sealing strip, a piston in said second fluid power motor, a piston rod extending outwardly therefrom, a swingable lever pivoted at one point to said piston rod, a cooperating member on said door adjacent to said second axis of swing, said cooperating member being adapted to be operatively engaged by said swingable lever when said door is in initial closed position and said second motor is energized, whereby, upon energization of said second motor said lever engages said cooperating member to extend said toggle system and apply tightly sealing pressure of the door edges on the bottom and side sealing members, said lower edge of said second panel being relatively narrow whereby to readily indent said resilient sealing strip and augment the sealing action.

2. Door operating means for a cylindrical drum of the type having a door opening, said opening having top, bottom and side edges, and a door for said opening comprising an upper panel and a lower panel, the upper panel being hinged to the drum wall along the top edge of said opening to provide a first axis of swing, and the lower panel being hinged to the upper panel along a second axis of swing, both said axes being parallel to each other whereby to permit said panels to be swung upwardly and inwardly on said first axis, and simultaneously to be jackknifed towards mutual overlap by movement of said lower panel around said second axis so as to clear said door opening for loading or unloading, a resilient sealing strip extending along the two side edges and the bottom edge of said opening and adapted to be contacted respectively by adjacent side edges of said door panels and by the bottom edge of said lower panel when said door approaches closed positions, said door in the latter position constituting a toggle system wherein said second axis is the center pivot, and is disposed radially outwardly of a plane common to said first axis and the sealing strip along the bottom of said opening, and operating means for said door comprising a first fluid power motor and a second fluid power motor, a piston in said first fluid motor, a first linkage means connecting said piston with said lower panel whereby when said first motor is energized said door moves between open and an initial closed position, in which position the side edges and bottom edge of said door establish initial contact with the respective side sealing strips and the bottom sealing strip, a piston in said second fluid power motor, a piston rod extending outwardly therefrom, a swingable lever pivoted at one point to said piston rod, a cooperating member on said door adjacent to said second axis of swing, said cooperating member being adapted to be operatively engaged by said swingable lever when said door is in initial closed position and said second motor is energized, whereby, upon energization of said second motor said lever engages said cooperating member to extend said toggle system and apply tightly sealing pressure of the door edges on the bottom and side sealing members, said lower edge of said second panel being relatively narrow whereby to readily indent said resilient sealing strip and augment the sealing action, a wall of said washer adjacent to said door opening being provided with latch means engageable with a part of said first linkage means to hold said door in fully open position, a release member adapted to engage and release said latch means, said release member being actuated upon door-opening movement of said first motor, said release member being a third fluid power motor, and said first and third fluid power motors have a common fluid power connection so as to energize said release member when door closing fluid power is applied to said first motor.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

1. DOOR OPERATING MEANS FOR A CYLINDRICAL DRUM OF THE TYPE HAVING A DOOR OPENING, SAID OPENING HAVING TOP, BOTTOM AND SIDE EDGES, AND A DOOR FOR SAID OPENING COMPRISING AN UPPER PANEL AND A LOWER PANEL, THE UPPER PANEL BEING HINGED TO THE DRUM WALL ALONG THE TOP EDGE OF SAID OPENING TO PROVIDE A FIRST AXIS OF SWING, AND THE LOWER PANEL BEING HINGED TO THE UPPER PANEL ALONG A SECOND AXIS OF SWING, BOTH SAID AXES BEING PARALLEL TO EACH OTHER WHEREBY TO PERMIT SAID PANELS TO BE SWUNG UPWARDLY AND INWARDLY ON SAID FIRST AXIS, AND SIMULTANEOUSLY TO BE JACKNIFED TOWARDS MUTUAL OVERLAP BY MOVEMENT OF SAID LOWER PANEL AROUND SAID SECOND AXIS SO AS TO CLEAR SAID DOOR OPENING FOR LOADING OR UNLOADING, A RESILIENT SEALING STRIP EXTENDING ALONG THE TWO SIDE EDGES AND THE BOTTOM EDGE OF SAID OPENING AND ADAPTED TO BE CONTACTED RESPECTIVELY BY ADJACENT SIDE EDGES OF SAID DOOR PANELS AND BY THE BOTTOM EDGE OF SAID LOWER PANEL WHEN SAID DOOR APPROACHES CLOSED POSITIONS, SAID DOOR IN THE LATTER POSITION CONSTITUTING A TOGGLE SYSTEM WHERIN SAID SECOND AXIS IS THE CENTER PIVOT, AND IS DISPOSED RADIALLY OUTWARDLY OF A PLANE COMMON TO SAID FIRST AXIS AND THE SEALING STRIP ALONG THE BOTTOM OF SAID OPENING, AND OPERATING MEANS FOR SAID DOOR COMPRISING A FIRST FLUID POWER MOTOR AND A SECOND FLUID POWER MOTOR, A PISTON IN SAID FIRST FLUID MOTOR, A FIRST LINKAGE MEANS CONNECTING SAID PISTON WITH SAID LOWER PANEL WHEREBY WHEN SAID FIRST MOTOR IS ENERGIZED SAID DOOR MOVES BETWEEN OPEN AND AN INITIAL CLOSED POSITION, IN WHICH POSITION THE SIDE EDGES AND BOTTOM EDGE OF SAID DOOR ESTABLISH INITIAL CONTACT WITH THE RESPECTIVE SIDE SEALING STRIPS AND THE BOTTOM SEALING STRIP, A PISTON IN SAID SECOND FLUID POWER MOTOR, A PISTON ROD EXTENDING OUTWARDLY THEREFROM, A SWINGABLE LEVER PIVOTED AT ONE POINT TO SAID PISTON ROD, A COOPERATING MEMBER ON SAID DOOR ADJACENT TO SAID SECOND AXIS OF SWING, SAID COOPERATING MEMBER BEING ADAPTED TO BE OPERATIVELY ENGAGED BY SAID SWINGABLE LEVER WHEN SAID DOOR IS IN INITIAL CLOSED POSITION AND SAID SECOND MOTOR IS ENERGIZED, WHEREBY, UPON ENERGIZATION OF SAID SECOND MOTOR SAID LEVER ENGAGES SAID COOPERATING MEMBER TO EXTEND SAID TOGGLE SYSTEM AND APPLY TIGHTLY SEALING PRESSURE OF THE DOOR EDGES ON THE BOTTOM AND SIDE SEALING MEMBERS, SAID LOWER EDGE OF SAID SECOND PANEL BEING RELATIVELY NARROW WHEREBY TO READILY INDENT SAID RESILIENT SEALING STRIP AND AUGMENT THE SEALING ACTION. 